Just close my effing account!
Just a quick one: PC World magazine's current issue has a good article for those of us who've tried to cancel or switch an internet provider or some other service. It brings forth dark memories and feelings from a few years ago when I finally broke from AOL-- It was one of the most frustrating bureaucratic experiences I've ever had. It really sucked to put it mildly.
Basically, I had in 2003 tried to cancel my subscription, after being a good customer for a number of years. I went through the process step by step as listed on their website, only to get-- Nowhere. The whole "cancel my account" screen was a sham. I eventually figured out I needed to call an 800 number to achieve cancellation, which I did. Only I didn't. For in the end, despite listening to a service rep's hard sell to stay with AOL, which I doggedly refused, I remember asking: "So that's it? I don't owe anything else, like a balance?" "No sir, Mr. R!" Said the rep, adding: "You're free and clear, your service will still be up for the balance of this billing period (it wasn't) and please think of us in the future, if you should need a new ISP..." Remember, I said: Only I didn't.
The next month, I receive a bill from AOL informing me that I owe an additional $24.95; or another month's service. So stupid me, I toss it figuring the billing dept. Of AOL was behind the times, accounting -wise. At least, that's what I thought until the next month, when I received a nasty letter in the most vicious legalsleeze tone informing me that if I don't pay my account balance I'd be handed off to an collection agency. Needless to say that put me on the phone, ASAP, in a lovely mood.
"What the f***?" I remember asking. "Oh, Mr. R.-- You were suppose to pre-ask (pre-ask, he said I kid you not) for a service refund when you cancelled..." The smooth operator purred. Needless to say, this wasn't explained to me up front. So to shorten this tale, I caved-- Payed them their lousy final $25, and walked away.
Having read this PC World article, it warmed my heart to see AOL get the shitty press they so rightly deserve, winning the title of "big hassle" in the article. I also learned that AOL's practices landed them in a nice class action suit back in 2005-- Hell, I would've considered joining that one! Sorry to rant on, like this. Obviously a few embers burn hotly within me...... Anyway, the article can be found here.
As a postscript to my sordid tale, I recently purchased a new laptop for my wife as a graduation present. "It comes with a whole year of AOL-- Free!" Gushed the sales clerk from Circuit City. "Is it pre-loaded on the computer or is it on a separate CD, or something." I asked.
"It's on a disk, I think." Said the clerk.
"Good!" I stated with some flair, "I've been wanting to test that CD function on my paper shredder...."
Basically, I had in 2003 tried to cancel my subscription, after being a good customer for a number of years. I went through the process step by step as listed on their website, only to get-- Nowhere. The whole "cancel my account" screen was a sham. I eventually figured out I needed to call an 800 number to achieve cancellation, which I did. Only I didn't. For in the end, despite listening to a service rep's hard sell to stay with AOL, which I doggedly refused, I remember asking: "So that's it? I don't owe anything else, like a balance?" "No sir, Mr. R!" Said the rep, adding: "You're free and clear, your service will still be up for the balance of this billing period (it wasn't) and please think of us in the future, if you should need a new ISP..." Remember, I said: Only I didn't.
The next month, I receive a bill from AOL informing me that I owe an additional $24.95; or another month's service. So stupid me, I toss it figuring the billing dept. Of AOL was behind the times, accounting -wise. At least, that's what I thought until the next month, when I received a nasty letter in the most vicious legalsleeze tone informing me that if I don't pay my account balance I'd be handed off to an collection agency. Needless to say that put me on the phone, ASAP, in a lovely mood.
"What the f***?" I remember asking. "Oh, Mr. R.-- You were suppose to pre-ask (pre-ask, he said I kid you not) for a service refund when you cancelled..." The smooth operator purred. Needless to say, this wasn't explained to me up front. So to shorten this tale, I caved-- Payed them their lousy final $25, and walked away.
Having read this PC World article, it warmed my heart to see AOL get the shitty press they so rightly deserve, winning the title of "big hassle" in the article. I also learned that AOL's practices landed them in a nice class action suit back in 2005-- Hell, I would've considered joining that one! Sorry to rant on, like this. Obviously a few embers burn hotly within me...... Anyway, the article can be found here.
As a postscript to my sordid tale, I recently purchased a new laptop for my wife as a graduation present. "It comes with a whole year of AOL-- Free!" Gushed the sales clerk from Circuit City. "Is it pre-loaded on the computer or is it on a separate CD, or something." I asked.
"It's on a disk, I think." Said the clerk.
"Good!" I stated with some flair, "I've been wanting to test that CD function on my paper shredder...."
posted by Rob at 10:17 PM
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